We walked this broken road in April and May. The end of the homeschool year, the end of my college semester, Mother’s Day and her peers graduating all around me as she fought for her life. It was hard but we had hope that through this trial, God was making things new.
A good Prognosis-
From the powerful Rosary mentioned in my last post on, my daughter continued to improve. There were ups and downs and it wasn’t easy but, she was well enough to breathe on her own again. We were so relieved to see her awake and somewhat alert. The next few days brought many challenges, but her prognosis was good. There were a litany of tests and therapies: bloodwork, cultures, CT, MRI, X-ray, physical therapy, occupational therapy and so many doctors, nurses, aides and staff in and out of her room at a steady pace.
My prior experience as a medical assistant, though many years ago, served me well in understanding and handling so much information. I’d often be asked by professionals if I was in the field and it reminded me how no experience is ever wasted. Not even the career “given up” to be home with your kids. My spiritual life has grown so much through the years, more than I could have imagined as a baby Catholic re-vert. Though I was blindsided, God was not surprised. He quipped me with everything I needed to persevere and be strong for my baby.
Happy to Help-
Now that she was up, the nurses said we should clean out the room of anything not medically necessary. “I’d love to!”, I said, “Consider it gone!”. I was never happier to pack up in my life. It meant we’d be moving out of the ICU to a less intensive level of care. It meant that we would leave that room with our daughter soon.
Through the whole ordeal, though frail, she remained incredibly beautiful. She was the talk of the floor, with many who had helped her, worked with us and prayed for her coming by to wish us well. Her stunning eyes, now opened, healed me once again. They shined like the beacon of hope they have always been to me.
Less intervention meant I could do more for her again, though it was tedious at first. For three days she was unable to drink, so I’d swab her mouth with small green sponges on attached to applicators, which I soaked in ice water. It was so hard to see her thirst. It reminded me of Jesus’ “I thirst” on the cross. How he thirsts for souls to save. How parched we are without His living waters of grace. It wasn’t long before she got that first sip, and moved on to thickened juice.
God’s Mother’s Day Gift-
“This is God’s Mother’s Day gift to you.”, an amazing staff member said to me in a warm, Jamaican accent. She was an older CNA, who asked me if she could pray over my daughter as she slept. I could feel the Holy Spirit in her, see Him in the surety of her face. She told me it wasn’t just illness, that this was a fight for her soul, that through this trial she would be reborn and I agreed.
She prayed prayers like those I’d been employing from my deliverance book, some word-for-word. Rebuking the spirit of sickness, shooing away anything not of God and proclaiming the name of Jesus and His power over all. I’ll never forget her kindness and grit.
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Prayers Over The Kitchen Sink 